In Depth With the Artist: Lilymoon

Lilymoon has been working on a new series of illustrations. Illustrations are (as is most of her work) fragments of imaginary stories, stories that follow her around and end up in her moleskine, where she lets them leave her and take a life of their own...

The prints are printed on heavy weight archival matte paper and her pins are hand painted with acrylic on solid wood. See more of her work at our market this month here and on the web below:

shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/LilyMoon?ref=si_shop

website: http://lilymoonhome.blogspot.com/

The 365 Knitting Clock

The 365 Knitting Clock is an amazing way to tell time.  Instead of the usual numbers or hands ticking by, the knitting clock knits a mesh/stitch every half hour, finishing an entire circle/row in one day, where at the end of the year an entire scarf has been knitted. Created by Siren Elise Wilhelmsen  (Via Ohdeedoh via Kickcan and Conkers).

Weekend Reading: T Design and Living

The summer issue of T Design and Living is out.  Loving the dream house in Majorca. Click here to view.  Photo's by Jason Schmidt.

In Depth With the Artist: A Quick Study

We love this new collection.  Longhand, a new line of paper goods from A Quick Study, is about making everyday things special through good design and interesting techniques. It's about making life a little more gracious and aesthetically pleasing, and making time to connect with each other and with ourselves.  Each card is hand-embroidered and inspired by a variety of stitch designs from around the world.  See more at Poppytalk Handmade this month or at the links below:

shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/aquickstudy

website: http://www.aquickstudyonline.com

twitter: http://www.twitter.com/aquickstudy

Show your love for Alabama and support the efforts of the American Red Cross to provide relief to those hit by the recent storms. $5 from your purchase will go directly to Alabama regional Red Cross chapters with the purchse of these cards.

Link Love

Top image: Forestbound via Free People
PIG Mag - check out page 95 (Sky to Sea) - the shoot by local photographer, Jennilee Marigomen took place in the mountains just north of Vancouver (via Old Faithful)
I want this book
A pretty desktop calendar for May.
Love this wooden bow!
East coast girls are hip
DIY Cinco de Mayo Piñata Favors
Some lovely sketches
Two kisses!
Have a lovely weekend!

DIY: The Mason Jar + Mother's Day

Last week I tweeted that I thought the mason jar was the craft product of the year, and even came across a whole category of collected ideas of them recently here. From spray painting to pendant lighting, these jars have become the base behind many a great craft project lately.  With Mother's Day upon us, a few more have been popping up on my radar like this pseudo frame idea for vintage photo's of mothers (an idea from a wedding reception as seen on Ruffled blog - photo by Blink Photography ). I love the idea of creating something like this for mother's day. It's basically zero cost, and yet is packed with sentiment.

Reader Steph Morgan of Modern Parents Messy Kids sent in another fun and simple idea (below), wrapping yarn to create an adorable vase for Mother's Day (or any day for that matter).  Visit her blog to see more DIY vase ideas for Mother's Day.

And what mother wouldn't love a mason jar terrarium handmade by their child or grandchild.  Seriously these are especially adorable. From Doodle Bird Imaginariums.  Click here for more mason jar inspiration.

In Depth With the Artist: Mr. Yen

Mr Yen was created in 2009 by Jonathan Chapman and is the name under which he creates customisable papercut artwork and professionally printed stationery products. With a passion for simplicity, practicality and beauty all products have been created with care and attention to detail.
The current Mr Yen stationery range consists of notebooks, notepads, note-cards, postcards and sketchbooks. The Mr Yen hand cut artwork range consists of customisable papercuts that make great personal gifts and presents and with each one being hand cut with a scalpel, no two are ever the same!
Mr Yen aims to make your life easier and simpler by giving you beautifully designed organisational products, with simplicity and practicality in mind. Visit his shop this month at Poppytalk Handmade.

shop: http://www.shop.mr-yen.com/

website: http://www.mr-yen.com/

facebook: http://www.facebook.com/MrYenPapercuts

twitter: http://twitter.com/mrYen

No Crust Required: Crustless Broccoli & Feta Quiche

By Jeannette Ordas of Everybody likes Sandwiches


When I was growing up, my mom made Quiche Lorraine all the time. I didn't know who Lorraine was, but I was pretty smitten with the eggy pie loaded with ham and cheese baked into a tender crust. It was a dinner item and went well alongside a green salad. It wasn't until my adult years that I realized many people ate quiche as a brunch dish. It's versatility is just one of its treasures.


Needless to say, I love quiche, but I'm not a fan of making pie dough. It causes me stress and while I've had a few good runs, I'd rather skip the process if I can. However, that's not to say that I'll buy frozen pie dough. Nope, not me. I haven't found one that's as good as homemade. So when I spotted a recipe for a quiche last year that didn't require a crust - just a light dusting of bread crumbs, I was sold.


I liked this crustless quiche so much that I've made it several times of the course of the year. Often, its ingredients are based on what I've got in the fridge - it's a good fridge clean-up meal. This version has a load of broccoli and feta, but like I said, the joys of a quiche are in its versatility. Add diced cooked potatoes, crumbled cooked bacon and some grated swiss cheese. Or spinach and sauteed mushrooms. Or go for the old Quiche Lorraine standby. It's all good. And because there's no crust required, it's available on a whim and healthier to boot. Not a bad trade-off if you ask me.


Crustless Broccoli & Feta Quiche

butter, for greasing pie plate
2 tablespoons of bread crumbs

1 head of broccoli

3 large eggs
1/4 cup milk
a pinch of salt & good grind of black pepper
1/2 teaspoon dried dill
2 tablespoons of minced red onion

1/4 cup feta cheese, crumbled

1. Preheat oven to 400F. Butter the bottom and sides of a pie plate and dust with bread crumbs. Set aside.

2. Break broccoli into florets and chop the stem into bits. Steam until tender-crisp and bright green, about 3 minutes. Drain.

3. In a medium-sized bowl, beat the eggs together, add in the milk salt and pepper and dill. Stir in the onions.

4. Pour egg mixture into the prepared pie plate and scatter the broccoli evenly over top. Do the same with the feta cheese. Bake for 25-35 minutes or until eggs are set. Cut into wedges. Serves 4 - or 2 hungry appetites.

Cool Decorating Trick No. 6

A creative and economical way to build one of those coveted vertical gardens. Turn a pocket shoe organizer into a veggie patch! You may have read my post last year on the woolly pockets, so this idea of using a canvas pocket shoe organizer is a brilliant and much cheaper alternative! From intructables.com.

Inspiration: How Does Your Garden Grow?

That's so Potted Contest via Fresh Dirt - Sunset.com

I'm in such a gardening mood lately are you?  The weather is finally warming up and I think many have already started their gardens.  I'm a bit behind and am excited to visit our local nursery which I'm hoping to do later this week.  Until then, I grab inspiration.  What are you planting this year?

Cloth handbags planters from Paris-based az&mut (photo credit: morgane le gall)

Planted Vintage Tackle Box

Sunset Magazine - Photo by Bret Gum

New Shop Alert: The New Domestic

I like what I'm seeing cooking up in my own backyard. Local designer, Nerissa Coco of The New Domestic has just opened up a new online shop aptly named, The New Domestic Shop which is a homeware line designed for Domestic Living 2.0. Her first line of products are heavy weight recycled cotton canvas tote bags with screen printed patterns. All bags have a diagonal pattern on the back for a two-in-one look. If you read Nerissa's beautiful blog, you'll see she has an amazing eye.  As a newish mom she has decided to stay at home and focus on her family and now her own line of products. Wishing you all the best Nerissa!

The New Domestic Shop

In Depth With the Artist: Heather Smith Jones

Using blue spruce, bamboo and cedar wood scrap from her husband's building projects, Kansas-based artist, Heather Smith Jones printed these cards by hand on her 1930's era Vandercook proof press. The wood scraps were planed and altered by her husband for Heather's printing purposes, and the inks she hand mixed in some of her favorite bright colors. See more of Heather's work in our market this month here.

Heather Smith Jones is an artist, arts educator, and author. In her drawings, paintings, and prints she uses primarily graphite, watercolor, and letterpress. Her work is represented by galleries nationwide and part of public and private collections across the globe. Her first book "Water Paper Paint, Exploring Creativity with Watercolor and Mixed Media" by Quarry Books was released Jan. 1, 2011.

Etsy shop: letterpress and prints - http://www.etsy.com/shop/hrsmithjones
Gallery store: original unframed paintings - http://hrsmithjones.bigcartel.com/

Website: http://www.heathersmithjones.com

 

How to Make a French Hand-Tied Bouquet Workshop This Weekend!

Would love to do this!  If you're in Portland this weekend, spend a morning with floral designer Chelsea Fuss of frolic!, at the gorgeous Bernadette Breu Antique Shop in Southeast Portland. You will learn how to make a French hand-tied bouquet from the freshest seasonal flowers. The basics of floral design will also be covered. Students will bring home their bouquet in a darling aqua pack (pictured). Tools and supplies are provided as well as yummy snacks! Class is limited to 15. April 30th from 11-2pm.  Click here for more info!

M is for Mother

1. Letterpress Gift Tag, Inkello,
2. Pink, Fine Art Photograph, Janis Nicolay
3. Pink Glitter Gift Tags, Paperklip
4. M is for Mother (letterpress card), Heartfish Press
5. Owl Mother's Day Card, Pink Bathtub
6. Journal, Tia Lola, Monikardila
7. Mother's Day Card (ice cream), Designs by Val
8. Fresh Flower Delivery and/or monthly subscriptions, Roost Flowers

(Ideas from Poppytalk Handmade).

New Market Today! Paper Pops!

Today we launch our new market at Poppytalk Handmade which highlights paper goods, affordable art and things for Mother's Day! The market is running today through to May 20th/11. We have some beautiful new artists/shops as well as new things from our returning ones. Click here to visit the site directly.

Row 1: Sign up for a 3 month subscription from roost flowers, new wood block prints from heather smith jones, pretty prints from lily moon, fun journals and things from emu attacks
Row 2: Paper goods from miki.o, new arrows from verla ivans, beautiful strings and things from paperphine, gocco prints from treatzone
Row 3: Fine art photographs from sfgirlbybay, unique stamp garlands from d. sharp, original art and prints from vivienne strauss, pretty stationery and tapes from spain and oficio

Row 4: Wood block printed fabrics and paper from katharine watson, vinyl decals for your laptop by oneup designs, coat hooks by formed and found, papergoods by designs by val
Row 5: Fine art photograph prints by janis nicolay, art and journals from mia christopher, beautiful hand bound journals from rough draft books, prints by pool pony
Row 6: handbound journals pebblestone papery, jewelry & housewares from tuulikki titine, letterpress cards from dempsey press, vintage found photos and postcards from paper & past
Row 7: humorous notes from dude and chick, prints by vicinity studio, paper goods by two guitars, miniature book necklaces by veterok

Row 8: letterpress prints by roll and tumble press, poolside prints from samantha french, hand embroidered notebooks from a quick study, custom made photo albums by see you there
Row 9: handcut cards and handmade journals by mr. yen, letterpress from starshaped press, notecards from bits and pieces, letterpress cards and frames from blackbird letterpress
Row 10: prints from twig creative, surf-themed art from magic markings art, prints from Australian-based with wallpaper, letterpress prints from heartfish press
Row 11: hand embroidery work by waterrose, nature-inspired photographs by quercus design, washi-tape creations by paperklip, prints by fifi du vie

Row 12: buttons and labels from k is for calligraphy, illustrated cards by hijinx at noon, handlettered prints by the hive, animal-inspired art by noisy dog studio
Row 13: fine art photography by magalerie, linocut pritns by wheat and berries, handmade journals by monikardila, romantic art prints by tastes orangey
Row 14: feathery fine art photographs by eve simone, fun illustrations by kate endle, letterpress by inkello, papergoods by pink bathtub
Row 15: illustrated letterpress prints and cards by 1canoe2, poolside and trailer-inspired art by leah giberson, custom printed goods from lettergirl, handmade pillows & things from France by un lieu sur terre

Row 16: mid-century-esque art prints by matte stephens, jewelry by figs + ginger, illustrated prints and stationery from paper and type, art prints and cards from UK-based mrs eliot books
Row 17: eco-friendly cards and tags from jack & ella paper, leather bags by scabby robot, handmade books by parkside harmony, letterpress cards and prints by steel petal press
Row 18: handmade paper goods and journals by redstar ink

Happy Easter

Easter Sunday by Poppytalk Handmade

Time-lapse Footage of the Milky Way

The Mountain from Terje Sorgjerd on Vimeo.

Time-lapse footage of the Milky Way captured by Terje Sorgjerd between April 4th and 11th, 2011, from atop El Teide, Spain's highest mountain. Stunning. (Via Huffpost Green).

DIY: Downloadable Easter Garlands

I don't know what's happening, but these adorable little Easter DIYs just keep popping up!  This one from Titatoni via Parsimonia via Twig and Thistle.  Pull out your translator and print out some cute little bunnies to hang on a string.  Also check out her downloadable cross-stitching Easter garland. Sweet!

Link Love: Earth Day

Photo credit: far out flora

A few links for Earth Day. Stalk Bicycles are a sustainably built bicycle made in San Francisco out of locally grown bamboo. The surprisingly versatile material is not only earth-friendly, but can be sculpted to beautiful proportions. Stalk bikes stand out for their attention to detail, craftmanship and unforgettable aesthetic. Read more here.

Using a dissected old shipping crate and scrap lumber, gardening blog, Far Out Flora made this DIY Succulent Table earlier this year for their backyard patio. Click here to see more.

Willi Galloway scores these wooden vintage crates at an estate sale to use as planter boxes for her new veggie garden. See more.

Step by Step: How to make seed balls

Sugar Snaps and Strawberries, Simple Solutions for Creating Your Own Small-Space Edible Garden by Andrea Bellamy of heavypetal.ca

Wine box turned balcony-sized raised bed garden from Life on the balcony.

Happy Earth Day everyone!